Influencer I
[OB1375] 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock - The Rube Goldberg Machine
- Thread starter ovrlndr
- Start date
Influencer I
The next installment of the build thread isn't a modification, it's a trip!
I was heading to Denver from Atlanta to meet some Jeep friends and explore some Colorado trails for the weekend.
The route I planned to Colorado took me from Georgia through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. I split the drive into two days and stopped over in Kansas City for the night.
On the way I tried to get a picture of either the state sign on the borders, or a picture that would otherwise depict the state.
First up... Tennessee!
I missed the state sign in Kentucky, so I took a picture of some Kentucky "bluegrass" (or that's what I'm going to say it was)...
Next up, Illinois (most horrible roads ever)...
Next up, I hit Missouri. Approaching St. Louis, I ran into a helluva storm. Winds so strong they blew me halfway into the lane next to me. Luckily, most people had pulled over to wait out the storm, and I had the road to myself for the most part.
I finally arrived in Kansas City...
In the morning, I crossed over into Kansas...
I made a quick pitstop in Kansas for a photo op...
And finally, I crossed over into Colorado!
The weekend's itinerary was as follows:
I was heading to Denver from Atlanta to meet some Jeep friends and explore some Colorado trails for the weekend.
The route I planned to Colorado took me from Georgia through Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. I split the drive into two days and stopped over in Kansas City for the night.
On the way I tried to get a picture of either the state sign on the borders, or a picture that would otherwise depict the state.
First up... Tennessee!
I missed the state sign in Kentucky, so I took a picture of some Kentucky "bluegrass" (or that's what I'm going to say it was)...
Next up, Illinois (most horrible roads ever)...
Next up, I hit Missouri. Approaching St. Louis, I ran into a helluva storm. Winds so strong they blew me halfway into the lane next to me. Luckily, most people had pulled over to wait out the storm, and I had the road to myself for the most part.
I finally arrived in Kansas City...
In the morning, I crossed over into Kansas...
I made a quick pitstop in Kansas for a photo op...
And finally, I crossed over into Colorado!
The weekend's itinerary was as follows:
- Day 1: Kingston Peak & Rollins Pass East
- Day 2: Deer Creek & Saints John
- Day 3: Red Cone & Keystone Gulch
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Enthusiast III
Man I seriously love your jeep and the way you wrote your build thread! It has to be my favorite vehicle on here for sure. Very well thought out build and that color is amazing!! You got a follower here. If you would like to check out an old XJ build thread that tries to think things out as well head over to mine titled Princess the 97 XJ... haha but seriously keep it up!
Influencer I
Wow, thanks for the kind words Greg! Now I am encouraged to hurry up and get the thread more current! Lots of additions since I left off on this thread... plus I need to finish the Colorado Trip story and write about the trip I just took!
Will definitely check out the XJ!
Cheers,
Jason
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Enthusiast II
Influencer I
Thanks! Would love to check out your build if you've got a thread? Love the Tacos!
Cheers!
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Enthusiast II
Once I start actually doing some mods, I will start a build thread. So far all I've done was add a Snugtop shell and some bits and pieces (a center console organizer, the Factor 55 hitch receiver in red just like yours, Finns sticker to the back window, etc.).
I'm starting to do research on a new front bumper, winch, and lighting. Once I get closer to pulling the trigger I'll start the thread.
Looking forward to your next posts.
Off-Road Ranger I
Influencer I
Thanks!
Man a lot of activity today! I guess it's time I finished the Colorado road trip write up and got the more current mods up!!
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Off-Road Ranger I
Influencer I
Alright, thanks to all the recent interest and activity, I'm making the effort to finish writing up the Colorado trip tonight.
As mentioned, the weekend trail breakdown was as follows:
Kingston Peak (Forest Service Road #353)
Kingston is an easy trail near Rollinsville and Nederland, about 8 miles in length, that climbs to just over 12,000 feet. It's a beautiful, scenic trail with views of James Peak. It also provides views of the Yankee Hill Network and can easily get to the town of Alice to check out St. Mary's Glacier. If you're in Colorado, or just passing through with your rig between July and September, it's worth the time.
In this shot, behind the Jeeps, you can see the iconic mailbox and rock house. It's good luck to bring a rock from elsewhere to add to the rock house.
Rollins Pass East (Forest Service Road #117) - Incomplete Run
Rollins Pass East is another easy, scenic trail about 12 miles in length that gets you above 11,000 feet and the timberline, providing great views in all directions. Rollins is the old train grade from the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific Railway and, by its completion, the highest main line railway ever constructed in North America. When the Moffat Tunnel was opened some years later, the Rollins Pass tracks were abandoned, with the rails and ties being later removed and the road reopened (now known as Rollins Pass). One thing to note is that Rollins Pass East connects to Rollins Pass West (connecting Rollinsville to Winter Park) through Needle's Eye tunnel, but after a rock fall in the tunnel back in 1990, the tunnel has remained closed (illegally). Google something along the lines of "Rollins Pass closed illegally" or "Rollins Pass Closure Legality" and you'll find plenty of reading. There have been those that have fought the closure, but it seems not enough overwhelming support for reopening the tunnel has been shown. This is why we all need to continue being stewards and activists, pursuing this hobby of ours the right way (staying the trail, keeping our trails clean by packing out what we bring in, attending local meetups and town hall discussion, etc.) in order to keep our trails open.
As mentioned, the weekend trail breakdown was as follows:
- Day 1: Kingston Peak & Rollins Pass East
- Day 2: Deer Creek & Saints John
- Day 3: Red Cone & Keystone Gulch
Kingston Peak (Forest Service Road #353)
Kingston is an easy trail near Rollinsville and Nederland, about 8 miles in length, that climbs to just over 12,000 feet. It's a beautiful, scenic trail with views of James Peak. It also provides views of the Yankee Hill Network and can easily get to the town of Alice to check out St. Mary's Glacier. If you're in Colorado, or just passing through with your rig between July and September, it's worth the time.
In this shot, behind the Jeeps, you can see the iconic mailbox and rock house. It's good luck to bring a rock from elsewhere to add to the rock house.
Rollins Pass East (Forest Service Road #117) - Incomplete Run
Rollins Pass East is another easy, scenic trail about 12 miles in length that gets you above 11,000 feet and the timberline, providing great views in all directions. Rollins is the old train grade from the Denver, Northwestern, and Pacific Railway and, by its completion, the highest main line railway ever constructed in North America. When the Moffat Tunnel was opened some years later, the Rollins Pass tracks were abandoned, with the rails and ties being later removed and the road reopened (now known as Rollins Pass). One thing to note is that Rollins Pass East connects to Rollins Pass West (connecting Rollinsville to Winter Park) through Needle's Eye tunnel, but after a rock fall in the tunnel back in 1990, the tunnel has remained closed (illegally). Google something along the lines of "Rollins Pass closed illegally" or "Rollins Pass Closure Legality" and you'll find plenty of reading. There have been those that have fought the closure, but it seems not enough overwhelming support for reopening the tunnel has been shown. This is why we all need to continue being stewards and activists, pursuing this hobby of ours the right way (staying the trail, keeping our trails clean by packing out what we bring in, attending local meetups and town hall discussion, etc.) in order to keep our trails open.
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Influencer I
As mentioned, the weekend trail breakdown was as follows:
Deer Creek is yet another easy, scenic trail about 4 miles in length, near Montezuma and Keystone, that gets you above 12,300 feet and provides spectacular views, summiting at the Continental Divide and connecting to several other 4WD trails in the area, including Saints John (and no, "Saints John" is not a typo). It's probably the easiest of the 4WD trails in this area.
Saints John (Forest Service Road #FS 275)
Saints John is an easy to moderate trail near Montezuma and Keystone, running along a high ridge with several steep climbs throughout. The north end of the trail takes you into the "town" of Montezuma. Why Saints John? Well, the first silver strike in Colorado was made in the area by John Coley, who founded Coleyville. A few years later some wealthy Free Masons bought up most of the mining claims in the area and renamed the town Saints John after the two patron Saints of the Free Masons, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.
- Day 1: Kingston Peak & Rollins Pass East
- Day 2: Deer Creek & Saints John
- Day 3: Red Cone & Keystone Gulch
Deer Creek is yet another easy, scenic trail about 4 miles in length, near Montezuma and Keystone, that gets you above 12,300 feet and provides spectacular views, summiting at the Continental Divide and connecting to several other 4WD trails in the area, including Saints John (and no, "Saints John" is not a typo). It's probably the easiest of the 4WD trails in this area.
Saints John (Forest Service Road #FS 275)
Saints John is an easy to moderate trail near Montezuma and Keystone, running along a high ridge with several steep climbs throughout. The north end of the trail takes you into the "town" of Montezuma. Why Saints John? Well, the first silver strike in Colorado was made in the area by John Coley, who founded Coleyville. A few years later some wealthy Free Masons bought up most of the mining claims in the area and renamed the town Saints John after the two patron Saints of the Free Masons, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.
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Influencer I
As mentioned, the weekend trail breakdown was as follows:
Red Cone Pass is a moderately difficult trail about 7 miles in length near the towns of Grant and Bailey that tops out around 12,800 feet. It provides incredible views in all directions once you are above the timberline, and is probably best known for the its extremely steep descent. There are a few obstacles along the way, one below the timberline and one above, but can be tackled easily by a capable vehicle and a good spotter. Wondering why it's called Red Cone? Check out the pics below...
The driver of the Jeep coming down the descent (Chris), put together this video of the group of us running the trail, with some drone footage.
Keystone Gulch (Forest Service Road #CR 175)
Keystone Gulch is an easy trail near - you guessed it - Keystone, about 8 miles in length. It takes you above the timberline at just under 12,000 feet and provides beautiful views of the Keystone ski area, the Breckenridge ski area and nearby Dillon. There's some mining remnants along the trail, and it's kind of neat that, at times, you're driving up ski runs.
And that concludes the wheeling portion of the Colorado trip!
- Day 1: Kingston Peak & Rollins Pass East
- Day 2: Deer Creek & Saints John
- Day 3: Red Cone & Keystone Gulch
Red Cone Pass is a moderately difficult trail about 7 miles in length near the towns of Grant and Bailey that tops out around 12,800 feet. It provides incredible views in all directions once you are above the timberline, and is probably best known for the its extremely steep descent. There are a few obstacles along the way, one below the timberline and one above, but can be tackled easily by a capable vehicle and a good spotter. Wondering why it's called Red Cone? Check out the pics below...
The driver of the Jeep coming down the descent (Chris), put together this video of the group of us running the trail, with some drone footage.
Keystone Gulch (Forest Service Road #CR 175)
Keystone Gulch is an easy trail near - you guessed it - Keystone, about 8 miles in length. It takes you above the timberline at just under 12,000 feet and provides beautiful views of the Keystone ski area, the Breckenridge ski area and nearby Dillon. There's some mining remnants along the trail, and it's kind of neat that, at times, you're driving up ski runs.
And that concludes the wheeling portion of the Colorado trip!
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Influencer I
On the way back from Colorado, I chose to go a different route, partially to avoid Illinois and its horrible roads, and partially to add new states to my list of those I've visited.
The route this time was Colorado -> Kansas -> Oklahoma (overnight stop in OKC) -> Arkansas -> Mississippi (needed to take a conference call, so I stopped to get the tires rotated LOL) -> Alabama (had to stop for a quick couple hours sleep - I was getting too tired to continue on safely, so ended up stopping at a gas station where a ton of truckers were also stopped) -> Georgia (grabbed some Waffle House and a coffee and booked it back to Atlanta).
Oklahoma state line
While this route took marginally longer, I enjoyed it so much, it was the route I used when my fiancée and I moved West. That, and I had a bunch of guns in the Jeep and felt like going through states more accepting of those than Illinois :)
Next up? More wheeling adventure pictures, then some more mods, then some more wheeling adventure pictures :)
The route this time was Colorado -> Kansas -> Oklahoma (overnight stop in OKC) -> Arkansas -> Mississippi (needed to take a conference call, so I stopped to get the tires rotated LOL) -> Alabama (had to stop for a quick couple hours sleep - I was getting too tired to continue on safely, so ended up stopping at a gas station where a ton of truckers were also stopped) -> Georgia (grabbed some Waffle House and a coffee and booked it back to Atlanta).
Oklahoma state line
While this route took marginally longer, I enjoyed it so much, it was the route I used when my fiancée and I moved West. That, and I had a bunch of guns in the Jeep and felt like going through states more accepting of those than Illinois :)
Next up? More wheeling adventure pictures, then some more mods, then some more wheeling adventure pictures :)
Influencer I
Speaking of the move out West, that's pretty much what happened almost right after my trip out to Colorado.
Almost as soon as we got there, we were back out in the Jeep.
I ran Kingston Peak again with a different group of friends (but from the other direction), as well as Yankee Hill, before dropping into Alice to check out St. Mary's Glacier.
Later that weekend, we ran Schubarth Trail to catch some of the last of the Aspen trees "blazing" before the leaves fell.
Next up... more mods!!!
Almost as soon as we got there, we were back out in the Jeep.
I ran Kingston Peak again with a different group of friends (but from the other direction), as well as Yankee Hill, before dropping into Alice to check out St. Mary's Glacier.
Later that weekend, we ran Schubarth Trail to catch some of the last of the Aspen trees "blazing" before the leaves fell.
Next up... more mods!!!
Influencer I
Off-Road Ranger I
